Unemployment in Tennessee fell last month to the lowest level in nearly three years, although the jobless rate in the Volunteer State remained above the national average.

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported today that the state's jobless rate declined by 0.4 percent during November to 9.1 percent.

Labor Commissioner Karla Davis said early Christmas hirings helped boost employment last month and cut the number of unemployed Tennesseans in November to the fewest number since January 2009 when President Obama was sworn into office.

"After seasonal adjustments were made, nearly 10,000 jobs were created since October with positive job growth in the service sector such as retail trade and temporary jobs," Davis said.

The national unemployment rate for November was 8.6 percent, a decrease of 0.4 percentage point from the October rate.

In neighboring Georgia, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 10.2 percent in October to 9.9 percent last month.